Best Natural Remedies for Sick Kids & FIRST AID KIT for Parents to keep on hand

I may receive a commission if you purchase through links in this post. I am not a doctor; please consult your practitioner before changing your supplement or healthcare regimen.

Natural remedies for sick kids provides a list of common children’s ailments and natural ways to reduce symptoms, bring comfort and speed recovery. This article includes many old methods passed down from natural doctors and peoples.

A note about herbs and some natural remedies

Our bodies have natural ways of detoxing. Oftentimes misunderstood, herbs can help by interrupting these pathways. Instead, they take the problem/toxin to the liver for us! That’s a good solution, actually, if we’re feeling really bad (or our child is), and we just need to feel better now.

But other times, it’s better to support the body’s natural detox processes, and let it handle the toxin in a more permanent way, by fully expelling it from the body.

The remedies in this article are a combination of both of these approaches. I usually make little notes, or you can sometimes easily guess how the remedy works.

Slowing down detox

Accordingly, I have omitted many of the common remedies you can read about on other websites: Remedies like Vitamin C, oregano oil, elderberries, castor oil and others slow down actual detox (<– I link to one example there, yet this is common), but they can bring symptomatic relief.

I trust you’ll find your way to those remedies if you want them.

Sometimes slowing down detox can be helpful because it provides relief from a detox process that was too intense. These short term solutions are not bad, but they are just not long term solutions. If certain symptoms ever become recurrent, it may be good to reconsider diet and bigger issues.

Remedies that work extra fast

I am also excited to pass along some dramatic remedies in this article that are less commonly shared and wonderfully more effective than alternatives. I put a * next to these solutions, as they work fast to bring relief.

Natural remedies for sick kids: Dosages

Disclaimer: Because I am not a doctor, just a MOM!, I am not going to get into dosages a lot (I do a little). Typically, when in question, a child’s dose is oftentimes 1/3 of an adult dose, or check a product or the internet for children’s dosing. Use your own best judgment for your child.

Natural First Aid Kit

Lastly, this article is a great impetus to create that Natural First Aid Kit you may’ve always wanted.

Whenever I think an item below belongs in that kit, I’ve emboldened it like this: “keep in your medicine cabinet“. So you can go through and click on those items if you want to build your own Natural First Aid Kit today. 🙂

Best Natural Remedies for Sick Kids

I’ve listed potential ailments below alphabetically.

Common cold

For a common cold, the best thing to do it catch it early and start:

• Cold Calm homeopathic — Keep this item in your medicine cabinet.
• Zinc picolinate — A child’s dose usually starts at 5 mg (so you’d need to use only 1/3 the product linked to), but zinc doesn’t agree with everyone. (If a child is copper toxic, they may react to zinc, although it’s typically considered safe by doctors. Just be aware.)
  • Cells use zinc for protection, so they work more efficiently fighting a virus when supplied with zinc.

Also, consider avoiding iron and high iron foods (unless recommended by your doctor) — Viruses use iron as a part of their reproductive cycle, so withholding it helps to block their proliferation.

Cough

A couple of the best common cough remedies do not really “heal” the lungs. Instead, they subdue them and allow the body to recover. Long term, there may still be some issues that need to be dealt with, which can be greatly affected actually by diet.

The first two remedies I give below provide comfort and relief in acute situations. The second two provide relief of cough symptoms (and anxiety for moms/dads) but don’t necessarily solve any potential bigger issue.

• *Saline nasal spray — If the cough goes hand in hand with a stuffy nose, saline nasal spray can be really helpful. This is a fantastic item to keep in your medicine cabinet.
• Steam tent
• Thyme Oil — Very effective for chest colds. If you’re concerned about the tiny bit of alcohol in tinctures, you can add this to hot water to help it dissipate. Dosage is 1/3 the adult dose, three times daily, for 1 to 2 days.
• NAC — I like to save this remedy only for when I really need it. When you need the “big guns”, it’s almost always a reliable go-to for lung improvement. I link to the best product. Their literature shares, “N-Acetyl Cysteine may work to break up sulfide bonds that are responsible for thickening mucus. By supporting healthy mucus viscosity, NAC helps maintain already normal breathing patterns.” This is a fantastic item to keep in your medicine cabinet as it works well with quickly escalating scary lung sicknesses.

Diarrhea

• *Activated charcoal — If you suspect toxins in the belly, AC will sop them up (and here’s why the bulk hardwood product I first link to is best). (Here are the capsules, if your child can swallow them and just needs relief from diarrhea.) Keep this item in your medicine cabinet.
• An activated charcoal poultice can be made and put over the liver. This is a good remedy for making before bed. (Where the recipe uses flax, organic psyllium husk seed powder may also be used.)

Ear infection

• Hydrogen peroxide — A few drops in each ear; wait 10 minutes between each side to allow the tickling to stop. You probably already keep this item in your medicine cabinet.
• *Garlic Mullein Oil, or just plain homemade garlic oil — Drop in 2 to 3 drops per side, and wait 5 minutes on first side before flopping over to do the second ear. Cover the first ear with a rag while doing the second ear, to catch the oil that runs out.
• Tea Tree Oil — This method is newer to me yet works well. Soak diluted (always dilute!) tea tree oil (olive oil + tea tree oil) on one side of a cotton ball. Put wet side gently into child’s ear, with dry side sticking out. Allow child to nap or go to sleep for the night, laying on their side, so sore ear is facing up and tea tree is slowing draining into ear. (Tape it there, if preferred.) This works very quickly (1-2 days, or overnight) at making ear infections go away. (source)

Fever

All of the following items are good to keep in the medicine cabinet:

• Belladona — This general flu homeopathic is good for flu symptoms that are accompanied by headache or sore throat.
• Rhus Toxicodendron — Choose this homeopathic when fever is accompanied by body aches.
• A bath with 1/4 cup activated charcoal powder whisked in. Choose the temperature of the water so it’s comfortable for what the child prefers. (The goal is not to cool the child off with a cold bath unless cool water feels nice.) 

With a fever, I like to assess what symptoms are also present so I have other clues on what to address. For example, if the child is throwing up, I would make a quart jar of water and add electrolyte mix.

Or if I know they’ve been exposed to toxins, I would also consider oral activated charcoal (more on this below) etc. Sometimes addressing the other symptoms also addresses why the body is causing the fever, so the fever is addressed as well.

Headache

• Magnesium — Many who suffer from headaches are actually magnesium deficient. This lotion is wonderful nightly on the abdomen or over the entire back, or this oral one (I start with 1 to 2 capsules [can be opened], and increase nightly unless/until bowel movements become too soft).
• Potassium — This mineral deficiency is also more common than people realize. Once a potassium deficiency headache starts, after dosing with the mineral, the headache may not resolve until waking up the following morning. Good source options include:
  • Plain Potassium drops
  • Bulk Potassium powder — I use 1/16th teaspoon for my 6 year old, stirred into water. I give my 15 year old 1/8 teaspoon doses, and sometimes more than once a day if he’s sweating a lot.
  • Electrolyte Mix (add it to water), if you already have some on hand
• Apple cider vinegar — 1 tablespoon in 12 ounces of water. For gentle immediate improvement of symptoms.
• Homeopathics for headaches — We’ve seen good results with Natrum Mur over the years (for girls), and Belladona (both genders), but I link to additional homeopathic options, because the cause of headache will indicate which remedy is needed.

Migraines

For migraines, read Natural Migraine Remedies.

Pink eye (conjunctivitis)

• *Raw honey — How to Use Honey for Pink Eye article here. This method works so well!

Sore throat remedies

Gargling is the most effective way to reduce sore throat. If kids are little, start them with just a little bit of liquid to teach them how to gargle (not a full sip). Be sure to dilute any adult recipe by 1/3 so it’s not as strong. Set them up for success, so they learn effective gargling.

What to gargle

• Saltwater
• *Ginger tincture diluted in water — And here’s the Homemade Ginger Tincture recipe. Keep this item in your medicine cabinet.
• Water with apple cider vinegar

Stomach ache remedies

In this category, the remedy depends on the cause of your child’s stomach ache. Of course, first rule out issues like Celiac from eating gluten, for example.

I used the * symbol a lot in the section below, because when you hit on the correct remedy that matches the cause of your child’s stomach ache, the remedy works really fast.

Assuming your child has gas, indigestion or a stomach ache of unknown cause …

• *Energy Touch Healing/Therapy — Very effective at supporting gentle noticeable movement along the alimentary canal. Good at providing gentle progress and relief in various parts of the GI tract.
• *Fresh lemon juice or apple cider vinegar in water — This method provides relief if a child has eaten too much food and/or a lot of fat.
• *Activated charcoal — If you suspect toxins in the belly, AC will sop them up. (Here are the capsules, if your child can swallow them.) Keep this item in your medicine cabinet.
• *Nat. Phos. 6X — Designated for indigestion and gas, Nat. Phos. works for a variety of stomach aches — whether from an unknown cause, hard to digest food or overeating. An easy great supplement to try first if you’re troubleshooting. Keep this item in your medicine cabinet.
• *Hot bath — Everyone’s different! So this approach will really help one person and not another.
  • If your child loves warm-hot baths (as hot as is comfortable), this method can cause a huge relief of symptoms.
  • Another child would benefit instead from a warm (not too hot) bath with Magnesium in it (not Epsom salts): Here’s how to make a Magnesium Detox Bath, with some variations.
• Legs up on wall

Flu or food poisoning

For the flu or food poisoning, with diarrhea as a main symptom

• *Activated charcoal — The maximum adult dose for AC with food poisoning and really bad diarrhea is 10 to 12 capsules daily. One third of that is 4 capsules daily. For older children, 6 capsules may be helpful. I like to start with half that dose for diarrhea — so 2 capsules for younger children, or 3 for older, to see if it slows things down. AC can cause no pooping at all for a day or two, so don’t give too much unless it’s needed. Very effective.
  • AC adsorbs to toxins to give the body relief and usher them from the system without further harm. It can also help facilitate throwing up, if that’s what needs to happen.
  • Here’s the best activated charcoal product, as it’s hardwood derived. It comes in bulk which is great for younger kids, because it can simply be stirred into a glass of water and drunk, no pill swallowing.
  • If you prefer pills, here’s a fine product to keep in your pantry, or check your local pharmacy for immediate needs.

Strep throat

Please read this article to learn more about strep throat.

• *Ginger tincture diluted in water is the best remedy — Here’s the Homemade Ginger Tincture recipe. Keep this item in your medicine cabinet.

Stuffy nose remedies

• *Lymphatic and facial massage (See the best video here; it’s a BIG help. You may feel clumsy at it at first, but it gets easier, and it’s very effective at draining the face; it also addresses sinus infections.)
• *Saline nasal spray — Keep this item in your medicine cabinet.
• Steam tent

If you’re trying to prevent a runny nose from getting worse when it first starts, read How to Use Clove Oil to Prevent Colds and Runny Nose.

Throwing up

With this symptom, we have to ask ourselves the cause: Do they have the flu? Food poisoning? The answer affects the course of action.

• *Activated charcoal — If you suspect toxins in the belly, AC will sop them up, but your child may throw up the AC, so you may decide to dose again. (Here are the capsules, if your child can swallow them.) Keep this item in your medicine cabinet.
• An activated charcoal poultice can be made and put over the liver. (Where the recipe uses flax, psyllium husk seed powder may also be used.)
• Water with Homemade Electrolyte Powder added. — This may or may not be thrown up again, but it’s important to keep kids hydrated with electrolytes when they’re throwing up, or when they’re done.

You can Pin Natural Remedies for Sick Kids here: